How To Do Adventurous Travel When You’re Not Adventurous!

So you’re not adventurous? You have to believe me when I tell you, neither am I! I’m scared of heights, have no balance and hate mud under my fingernails. That doesn’t stop me, and it shouldn’t stop you either! Let me show you how you can enjoy adventurous travel without being adventurous.

Small Steps

You don’t have to run off to the mountains in Pakistan on a month-long hike. Not straight away, anyway. If hiking is your thing, you could start locally. Travel doesn’t have to be far. If you want to go away for a year, but find that thought so daunting, it’s OK to start with a month trip first. You get the idea, doing anything in small steps always makes it easier. Adventurous travel can start with small steps.

Don’t Do Anything You Know You Won’t Enjoy

Being adventurous doesn’t mean doing anything that you won’t enjoy. You shouldn’t feel you have to do something because it will make you “adventurous”. You also shouldn’t avoid doing something just because you think you won’t like it.

At the Grand Canyon I went on a helicopter ride, because I’d never been in one and wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not. As the helicopter landed, I was so relieved to be back on the ground, whilst my friends were all saying how awesome it was. I don’t regret doing it, I just know now that I don’t like it and won’t do it again. When at Victoria Falls, my friend wasn’t sure if she would like a helicopter ride. When she came back raving about how amazing it was, I didn’t feel regretful of not doing it, because I just knew it wasn’t for me. And now my friend knows that helicopter rides are for her, and I’m sure she’d do one again.

Adventurous travel does not mean doing something you won’t enjoy.

You Don’t Have To Do It Alone

Even if you travel solo, you don’t have to be alone. You can join group tours. There are lots of group tours out there from leisurely trips to more adventurous travel. You probably won’t even be the least adventurous on the trip. Even if you are, you find the kind of person who goes on these trips are always helpful and supportive. I could give you countless examples of the amount of support I’ve had whilst on a group tour, from a little bit of sympathy suffering sea sickness on a yacht, to a helping hand when struggling up a steep hill.

When camping in the Okavango Delta, in the bush, I was sharing with another female solo traveller (who is now my friend), and we both admitted that we decided not to pay for the single person supplement as neither of us wanted to be in a tent on our own.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

If you need help, even if it’s just a bit of reassurance then ask. You will be surprised at just how many people are willing to help you.

Adventure Costs Money?

Adventurous travel done easily and in comfort does cost more money. Perhaps that’s an oxymoron though. The cheaper it is the more of an adventure it is.

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway!

If you feel that knot in your stomach, then it means it’s something worth doing. If you had no emotion at all, then it wouldn’t be worth your while. All experienced travellers are nervous before they go; it’s only natural.

Be adventurous when you’re not naturally adventurous and then you too can be a “place dropper” like I have all the way through this article.

I definitely agree, there is a lot of stigma around that travel is all about doing crazy things and stepping way out of your comfort zone.. but that’s not true at all!
Travel is about exploring your destination in a way that’s comfortable to you X